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RDC/Resources and Development Committee supports HRI report

Navajo Council Resources and Development Committee meeting in the Council chamber in Window Rock, Ariz., on April 15, 2014. Photo by Marley Shebala

HERE AT RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING WHERE HRI/HYDRO URANIUM RESOURCES IS ASKING RDC TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING THEIR LEGISLATION THAT CREATED RDC SUBCOMMITTEE TO WORK ON PROPOSED AGREEMENT BETWEEN HRI AND NAVAJO NATION FOR DEMONSTRATION PROJECT INVOLVING IN-SITU URANIUM MINING NEAR CHURCH ROCK, NM.

RDC VICE CHAIRPERSON DELEGATE ROSCOE SMITH
Do we want to continue our support of our actions regarding HRI or not. And is the Church Rock resolution supporting HRI still in effect. And yes, I’m also concerned about the federal court stepping in and making a decision which then takes it out of the hands of the Navajo Nation.

RDC MEMBER/SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON DELEGATE LEONARD TSOSIE
The Church Rock resolution supporting HRI is still in effect. There are other Navajo communities that have passed resolutions opposing HRI and that’s because of the anti-uranium activists.

And we have asked HRI to take uranium off Navajo rez and not process at Crownpoint.

And then there are the navajo allottees that want uranium development on their land.

VOTE CALLED ON REPORT BY HRI
3 in favor, 1 opposed
The opposing vote is RDC member Delegate George Apachito
The 3 in favor are RDC members Leonard Tsosie, Leonard Pete and Roscoe Smith

RDC CHAIRPERSON KATHERINE BENALLY
If HRI wants the RDC to reaffirm its legislation that created RDC Subcommittee to work on agreement between HRI and Navajo Nation for HRI to have a demonstration project for In-Situ Uranium Mining then there needs to be separate legislation.